Multiple expander



T. JI'DIXON. MULTJPLE EXPANDER. v vAPPLICATION FILED MAY22.1920.

1,379,087. Patenteam 2m921,

Tllcql.

TJJ. DIXON.

MULTIPLE EXPANDER. APPLICATION FILED MA! 22, 1920.

l ,379fi387 1 mented May 24, 1921.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Aug

ENVENTOR 17201914.; (IE/Iran UNITED, STATES" PATENT FFIC THOMAS J, .nrxolv, or MADIson'wIscoNsIiv.

V MULTIPLE EXPANDER.

To all whom it may concern: p 7 7 Be it known that I, THOMAS J .DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple Expanders, of which-the followingis a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a tube expander that-is of a simple and inexpensive construction andis so arranged eral steps of the shell being in alinement with each other but slightly'inclin'ed with relation to the axis of the shellf In its detailed nature, the invention includes a novel structure by which the parts can be conveniently assembled.

The invention also resides in those novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will-be first fully described, then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shell and roller constituting a part of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, the mandrel being in place.

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical sectionof the retaining collar.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the collar.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 2. V V

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on. the line 7 7 on Fig.

Fig. 8 is a cross section, similar to Fig. 5, of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line 99 of Fig. 8, the roller being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 10 is a detailed perspective view of one of the retaining clips.

Specification of Letters Patent. 3 ,Patentd May Application filed May 22, 1920. Serial Nofssaass;

In the-drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in. all the figures,'1 represents the shell which is formed with-a series of steps 2, '3, ,4,etc., and which is :centrally bored, as at 5, to receive the mandrel 6. Thelargest step 4'ofthe shell terminates in a flared or expanded end 7 on which the collar 8 is forced friction and by a key 9. r I i -Each section 'or step of the shell 1 has a radial pocket 10. The corresponding pockets of the several steps 2, 3 and 4 are in alinement with one another, as shown, but the axis of each group of rollers. is slightly inclined with regard to theaxis of the shell, so that the tool will be self-advancing.

I11, 12 and 13 designate therollers'which fit the pockets 1(lof the respectivesteps 2, 3 and 4 of thexshell. The pockets 10: of

by retaining the steps 2 and 3 of the shell are provided with outer lips 14 which constrict the outside opening. to prevent radial discharge of the rollers from the pockets and the inner extremities of the pockets are constricted, as at 15, to limit the, inward movement of the rollers toward the axis of the shell.

The walls of the. pockets 10 of thestep 1, however, are straight, as indicatedin Fig. 5, so that the rollers may be introduced through the pocket 10. of the largest step 14, the outward, movement of the rollers ,13 being limited by the recesses 16 in the collar 8.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the collar 17 corresponding to the collar 8 of the preceding form, is made integral with the shell and the wall of each pocket 10 is provided with a retaining lip 14. In this form, the rollers are all inserted through apertures 18 in the rear end of the shell and therollers are held in place by clips 19 which fit'over the collar 17 and have a portion 20 to extend down in back of; the rear roller 13 and have another portion 21 to clip into the recess 22 in the collar 17, the clips 19 being thus selfholding.

In operation, the tool is fitted into the tube to be expanded, the tube fitting either the step 2, 3 or 4 as the case may be, depending upon the diameter of the tube. The mandrel 6 is then inserted in the usual manner to expand the rollers and thus cause the expansion of the tube.

From the foregoing description taken in of the shell, rollers in said pockets, the

pockets of the steps of lesser diameter having lips attheir outer edges to restrain the rollers, the rollers in the respective pockets alining with each other, whereby the smaller diameter rollers may be inserted via the largest roller pocket into their respective smaller pockets, means for retaining the largest roller in place, and a mandrel for forcing the rollers radially. V

2. A- tube expander comprising a tubular shell having plurality of portions of different diameters to form steps, said shell having roller receiving pockets for each step, rollers in said pockets progressively increasing in diameter from the smaller end to the larger end of the shell, the roller receiving pockets of the respective steps being arranged in sets, the pockets of corresponding position in the several steps of the shell being in'endwise register and merging one with the other, whereby all of the rollers of a set may be inserted through the largest pocket and distributed successively through the registering pocketsbeginning with that of largest diameter to their respective pockets and means for retaining the rollers in place, when assembled, and a mandrel for forcing the rollers radially apart. I

3. A tube expander comprising a shell having an axial bore, said shell being formed with a plurality of diameters to pro-- vide steps, each of said steps having radial roller receiving pockets, the inner portions of which register with the bore of the shell, the pockets of the steps of lesser diameter having lips at their ,outer edges ,to restrain the rollers, sets of rollers of different diameters, one set for each stepped pocket, the respective sets of rollers alining with each other, whereby the smaller diameter rollers may be inserted via the lar est roller pocket into their respective sma ler pockets, a collar on the shell with provision for retaining the rollers of largest diameter in place, and amandrel for forcing the rollers radially. V

4:. A tube expander comprising a shell havingv an axial bore, said shell being formed with a plurality of diameters to provide steps, each of said steps having radial roller receiving pockets, the inner portions of which register with the bore of the shell, the pockets of the steps of lesser diameter having lips at their outer edges to restrainthe rollers, sets of rollers of different diameters, one set for each stepped pocket, the respective sets of rollers alimng with each other, whereby the smallerdiameter rollers may be inserted via the largest roller pocket into their respective smaller pockets, a collar on the shell with provision for retaining the rollers of largest diameter in place, said collar being separately formed from said shell, said collar and said shell being fitted together with a tight fit, a key for keying said collar and shell together, said collar having roller receiving recesses into which the rollers may be expanded, and a mandrel for forcing the rollers radially.-

THOMAS J. DIXON. 

